Cement's Basic Molecular Structure Finally Decoded
Friday, September 11, 2009 - 10:21
in Physics & Chemistry
In the 2,000 years since the Roman Empire employed a naturally occurring form of cement to build a vast system of concrete aqueducts, researchers have analyzed the molecular structure of natural materials and created entirely new building materials such as steel. Oddly enough, the three-dimensional crystalline structure of cement hydrate had eluded scientific attempts at decoding, until an MIT team tackled the problem.